Tuesday, 16 July 2013

I got an uplifting email from Conor Robinson, founder of the Pathfinders Project, a couple of weeks ago. I promised to write about it on the blog but things happened and stuff got in the way. Finally, here's some good news.

Some of the online modules guide students through the process of designing controlled experiments, collecting data, and evaluating the significance of the results. Others use historical examples of hoaxes and pseudoscientific claims to allow students to compare the reliability of different kinds of evidence

An excellent fit with the school in Kasese, who's motto is "With Science we can progress!"

The JREF heard about this and offered to donate the classroom kits they use in their own workshops!

These classroom kits take the online modules to the next instructional level with handouts, materials, lesson plans, and manipulatives, and they can of course still be supplemented with the online modules for extended learning. This arrangement will allow JREF to expand its reach and Pathfinders Project to more effectively promote critical thinking. JREF will get to see its powerful curricula in action internationally, and Pathfinders Project will have a strong educational counterbalance to its clean water and human rights projects.

And the kits will be left at the schools so teachers can use them with students for years to come.

On another note. It turns out Conor was at TAM this year. I should have gotten this post out a little sooner - woops. Apologies!

Anyway, the Pathfinders will be at Kasese Humanist School this fall and they will be helping out with some of the fundraising as well. The goal is to get enough money raised to start building classrooms on the newly purchased land that was bought a few months ago with the help of the Atheist/Humanist community!